Leave it Cornelia to be cavalier. “Why would you want to live in Ellswood when you could thrive in Livingston? Doesn’t it have such a lovely ring to it?”
The co-hosts lean in closer with that casual, knowing air, as if it’s just them and the audience—conveniently forgetting the millions watching from home.
“This is it,” Ebony says, bracing. “It’s the switch-up. Tea will be spilled. Expeditiously.”
“Cornelia Sterling Livingston…” Yvette dips her chin, her dark brown eyes narrowed. “Now, I know you’re here celebrating the upcoming nuptials of your sons, butmydear,” she says, far too familiar, “can we dig a little deeper for a few seconds?”
“She said that to me,” Ebony whispers. “This is where Cornelia could change her fate. It’s a small, seemingly insignificant choice, and she can say no.”
But she doesn’t.
Perhaps too proud to admit she isn’t untouchable, Cornelia gives a small laugh. Hand to heart, like she’s summoning every minuscule ounce of grace, she smiles for the audience. “Of course!”
Of course.
Yvette claps and squeals, and if I wasn’t paying close attention, I might’ve missed Azalea giving a quick nod. It couldn’t be clearer that she’s signaling to go in for the coup de grâce.
“Are there anyotherreasons you’d want to replace the name Ellswood?”
Cornelia’s got to know what’s coming.
She gives a nervous laugh, and for a second, I think Manny might be onto something with his faint-or-fight predictions.
But then Yvette tag-teams with Azalea, dragging Cornelia,willingly, into a public scandal.“Tell us about your relationship with Theodore Bridges.”
She gasps, and I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve seen Cornelia Livingston’s expression resemble anything close to human.
Outright indignant, she insists, “There is no such relationship—”
“But there was,” Yvette presses, really digging her heels in. “Once upon a time, before either of you were married, he was your Zion & Zara cotillion escort, wasn’t he?”
Cornelia tries to recover, tossing a shaky laugh to the audience because she knows this is the end, the way she knew she shouldn’t have agreed to be on this “unwatchable, low-class television” show.
Right about now, I’m guessing the wordsoh, shitare going through her head, because this is not just trending gossip. Turns out, along with scandalous, salacious details about the Ellswood’s elite, Yvette and Azalea are more than titillating daytime TV hosts and fame-seeking formerLuxe Ladies of Ellswood.
They did the research and checked the sources. Twice.
Cornelia inhales deeply, then locks eyes with Yvette. “What has that got to do with anything? It’s ancient history.” She flashes a small smile, glancing at Nora, who looks like she’s counting the minutes until this nightmare is over. Then to Azalea, who doesn’t give her any reprieve.
“Because we’ve got sources claiming your parents were discussing marriage”—Azalea clears her throat—“before he dumped you for Carlotta Bridges, formerly Carlotta Ellswood.”
Damn.
“Isn’t that the real reason, as the president of Zion & Zara, that you rejected Lincoln Bridges from membership? Why you’re holding a grudge against the Bridges family, and why now you’re seeking to remove Carlotta’s family name from the city that her ancestors built?”
The audience is already a chaotic mess with applause.
“She’s going to faint!” Whitney tosses off her blanket, waving her Foolishness sheet in the air.
As if determined to regain control before she completely loses her mind, Cornelia twists dramatically on the over-the-top faux-fur sofa, pressing an unsteady hand to her chest. “Who put you up to this? Please tell me you can do better than using disreputable sources. It’s clearly fake news.”
She claps, awkwardly at first, trying to summon enthusiasm from the audience before sitting up straighter, eyes laser-focused on the co-hosts.
“All of it, fake,” she says.
“And she’s doubling down.” Ebony’s tone is infused with disbelief.
Cornelia’s full pink lips curl into a thin, placating smile. Then she shifts her gaze to the audience, her expression begging for sympathy.You’re going to sitthere and allow them to harass me like this?it says.I’m an esteemed guest…
